Putter head

ABSTRACT

A putter head comprising a sole portion  3  extending from a lower portion of a face portion  2  in the opposite direction of a target, a back portion  4  extending upwardly from the edge portion of said sole portion  3 , and a weight portion  5  attached to the upper edge portion of the back portion  4 , wherein the weight portion  5  is positioned in a height at least the same height of the face portion  2 , apart from the face portion in opposite direction of the target so as to set the depth of gravitational center deeper, and thereby widening the sweet spot area in the center on the surface of the face portion  2.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a golf putter head (hereinaftera putter head).

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Conventional putter heads for the purpose of hitting a golf ballat a sweet spot of a putter have been examined in various improvements,e.g., a balancer being provided on a putter head as disclosed inJapanese Patent Application Laid-Opens (Kokai) No. 1998-137374, No.2001-25518, and No. 2001-137400.

[0005] Another improvement example is that a straight index line isattached to a putter head in the swing direction to increase hole-outprobability as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open(Kokai) No. 1998-192466. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open(Kokai) No. 1998-248975 shows that an index line is attached to a clubhead along a direction from a toe portion of the club head to a heelportion of the club head, or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open(Kokai) No. 1999-19264 shows that an attachable guide metal fitting isfixed to a lower portion of a shaft, above an index line in a swingdirection.

[0006] Conventional putter heads have difficulties in manufacturing orappearance. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai)No. 2002-65913 discloses a putter head with respects to adoptingpartially different material into a head to provide a weight portionhaving a larger specific gravity. Or, Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open (Kokai) No. 1998-137374 discloses a putter head being twisteda weight member into an appropriate position of a putter head. Inaddition, they have further difficulties in optimizing a head weight, acenter position of gravity, a distance and depth of gravitationalcenter, or in load-balancing between a toe portion of the putter headand a heel portion thereof.

[0007] It is also practically impossible to hit a golf ball accuratelyin a desired direction toward the target with those putters ofaforementioned references. In addition, it is not popular to use theputter as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No.1999-19264 in the market, because not only that an attachment of a metalfitting is limited for a putting practice but also that golfers suspectthe effect of the attachment thereof.

[0008] In order to solve above problems, accordingly, the presentinventor has discussed a putter head with easy manufacturing and apreferable appearance; having features to set a depth of gravitationalcenter deeper toward a golf ball during putting; to divide load balancebetween a toe portion of the putter head and a heel portion of theputter head; and also to perfectly capture the index line attached tothe putter head so as to secure an accurate swing for putting a golfball toward the target.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] As a result of the above-described discussion, the presentinventor has developed a golf putter head comprising: a face portion forhitting a golf ball toward the target, a sole portion extending from alower edge portion of the face portion in the opposite direction of thetarget along the ground, and a back portion extending upwardly from anend portion of the sole portion, thereby integrally forming a putterhead having a substantially U-shaped in side view; wherein a weightportion is attached to an upper portion of the back portion in a heightat least the same height of the face portion so that the center ofgravity of the back portion is set in a higher position apart from theface portion. By setting the center of gravity of the back portion withthe weight portion thereon in a rearward position with at least the sameheight of, more preferably, the higher than the upper edge of the faceportion, a depth of gravitational center of the putter head can be setdeeper against the face portion, resulting in widen the sweet-spot area(i.e., a best area for hitting a golf ball) on the face portion. Theweight portion may be varied in materials, shapes or specific gravitycorresponding to hitting performance and appearance required.

[0010] The back portion may have a structure that a hole is arranged tothe back portion in which being visible to a rear surface of the faceportion, and thereby load of the weight portion is divided respectivelyto the toe and the heel portions through each wall face applied by thehole arranged. This structure also allows the back portion to distributea ratio of loads which is applied optionally between the toe and heelportions of the sole portion in accordance with the position where thehole is arranged on the back portion, so as to regulate the load balanceinto the face portion.

[0011] Next, a visible index line is arranged on the upper surface ofthe sole portion, and a basis portion is provided in a parallel andhigher position with a prescribed interval to the index line. The basisportion may be obtained by utilizing the edge of the weight portion, oralso by providing an eye-hole arranged on a surface of the weightportion. The eye-hole preferably has an outer shape similar to an outershape of the index line, e.g., the eye-hole opening at a longitudinalshape or a cross-shape. As for a configuration of the eye-hole servingas the basis portion, a width of the eye-hole is not necessary to be thesame of the width of the index line as long as at least one of the sideedges of the eye-hole in the longitudinal direction has fitted with thatof the index line.

[0012] The basis portion may be employed by a discontinuousconfiguration such as a broken line if the whole outer shape of theindex line precisely could be in a sight of the basis portion. Further,the basis portion can be arranged to a top plate of an attachment memberhaving a box-shape or a bridge-shape, so that the basis portion can beemployed to several types of the putter which has a space beingmountable at a rear area of the face portion.

[0013] The position of the basis portion may preferably be set in aheight between 15 mm to 40 mm, preferably 25 mm to 30 mm (i.e., closerto a player's sight) above from the index line. In a case of attachingthe basis portion to a top plate of the attachment member, a thickness Tof the top plate may be within the range of 5 mm to 10 mm, preferably 7mm to 8 mm. In a case of that the basic portion as being of theeye-hole, a width W of the hole may be within the range of 5 mm to 8 mm,preferably 6 mm to 7 mm. It is preferable that the index line havingabout 3 mm width and about 30 mm length thereof, and the basis portionhaving a length L between 40 mm to 75 mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a front view of the putter head of the invention.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a right side view of the putter head of the invention.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the putter head of the invention.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a rear view of the putter head of the invention.

[0018]FIG. 5 is a side view of the putter head of the invention showinga process in use.

[0019]FIG. 6 is a left side view of the putter head in alternateembodiment of the invention.

[0020]FIG. 7 is a plan view of the putter head in alternate embodimentof the invention.

[0021]FIG. 8 is a front view of the putter head in another example ofthe invention.

[0022]FIG. 9 is a left side view of the putter head in another exampleof the invention.

[0023]FIG. 10 is a plan view of the putter head in another example ofthe invention.

[0024]FIG. 11 is a rear view of the putter head in another example ofthe invention.

[0025]FIG. 12 is a plan view of the putter head of the present inventionin condition that a face of the putter opened against a targetdirection.

[0026]FIG. 13 is a plan view of the putter head of the present inventionin condition that a face of the putter closed against a targetdirection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] A putter head illustrated in the drawings is attached to a shaft1, having a face portion 2, as conventional, at a front surface of theputter head. The present invention adopts a characteristic portion at arear portion of said face portion 2, which has a sole portion 3extending from a lower portion of said face portion 2 in the oppositedirection of an impact target. A back portion 4 extends upwardly from anedge portion of said sole portion 3, wherein a weight portion 5 isattached to an upper portion of said back portion 4. Accordingly, theweight portion 5 is disposed in a rearward position with at least thesame height to the upper edge of the face portion 2, so as toconcentrate weight in rearward from the face portion 2. That is, loadscan be transmitted to the face portion 2 through the back portion 4 andthe sole portion 3, thereby setting a depth of gravitational center ofthe putter deeper. Therefore, a sweet spot area P (illustrated by thecentral point of the sweet spot area in the drawings) is widened in thecenter portion on the surface of the face portion 2.

[0028] A hole 6 is arranged to the back portion 4 extending upwardlyfrom the end portion of the sole portion 3. Depending on the shape orposition of the hole 6 arranged on the back portion 4, the ratio ofloads divided to a toe portion 7 of the putter head and a heel portion 8of the putter head through wall faces formed by the back portion splitcan be set optionally. Accordingly, a load balance of the face portion 2can be regulated.

[0029]FIG. 5 illustrates a process of the putter head of the inventionin use. As shown in FIG. 5, the concentrated weight at a rearwardposition with at least the same height from the upper edge of the faceportion 2 can make a golf ball 9 to be hit at the sweet spot P disposedin the higher position of the center portion by widening thereof on thesurface of the face portion 2. This causes that it gives energy to agolf ball hit longer by such a widened sweet spot, and therebygenerating a forward rotary motion onto the ball. Accordingly, afavorable putting having a well-rolled ball with kept in straight linecan be achieved.

[0030] The putter head shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 also concentrates theweight disposed in a rearward position with at least the same heightfrom the upper edge of the face portion 2. However, this embodiment ofthe putter head comprises a narrower width of a sole portion 3 thancomparative aforementioned embodiments, and, a back portion 4 extendingfrom the narrow sole portion 3 by the angle that declined to beingopening upwardly. In this embodiment, a golf ball is also hit at a sweetspot P in a higher position of the center portion of the face portion 2.Accordingly, it gives energy to a golf ball hit longer by such a widenedsweet spot, and thereby generating a forward rotary motion onto theball.

[0031] A putter head, as illustrated in FIGS. 8-11, includes a shaft 1extended from the face portion 2 and a back portion 4 provided upwardlyfrom the sole portion 3 extended from the lower portion of the faceportion 2 in the opposite direction of an impact target, wherein theback portion 4 protrudes from the sole portion 3 in at least the sameheight of the upper edge of the face portion 2. In addition, the weightportion 5, having a similar configuration to that of the back portion 4,is attached to the back portion 4 with contacting the surfaces eachother. Therefore, the center of gravity of the weight portion 5 is setin the rearward position with at least the same height from the upperedge of the face portion 2, as well as aforementioned embodiments. Thus,the deeper central of gravity makes the sweet spot P area in the centerportion of the face portion 2 wider.

[0032] In this example, an upper edge of the weight portion 5functioning as the basis portion is provided with the position abovefrom the index line 10 provided on the upper surface of the sole portion3. The eye-hole as being of the basis portion may be provided with theweight portion. The index line 10 in this embodiment has a thickness of3 mm and a length of 40 mm. The height of the upper edge of the weightportion 5 functioning as the basis portion 11 is set in 30 mm heightabove said index line 10. A hole 6 formed by wall faces of the backportion 4 and the weight portion 5 is also functioning as an aperturefor admitting light to the index line 10 in higher visuality.

[0033] Next, the action of the basis portion 11 is described as follows.The index line 10 can be seen in parallel to the edge line of the basisportion 11 when the face portion 2 is precisely aimed at the target, asshown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. However, the index line 10 can be seen indeclined to the edge line of the basis portion 11, as shown in the FIG.12, when the face portion 2 opens its angle to the target over 90degrees. Contrarily, as shown in FIG. 13, the index line 10 can be seenin inclined to the edge line of the basis portion 11 when the faceportion 2 closes its angle to the target less than 90 degrees.

[0034] As described above, therefore, the relationship between the indexline 10 and the basis portion 11 appears to be in non-parallel unlessthe face portion 2 is precisely aimed at the target. This is caused bythat the face of the putter head has a loft angle of about threedegrees. When the face angle of the putter against the target opens, agolf player takes the loft angle of the putter head for different anglesbetween at the toe portion and at the heel portion. This causes that theindex line 10 can be seen in declined to the edge line of the basisportion 11. Contrarily, when the face angle of the putter against thetarget closes, a golf player takes the loft angle of the putter head fordifferent angles between at the toe portion and at the heel portion, andthereby the index line 10 can be seen in inclined to the edge line ofthe bases portion 11.

[0035] Therefore, correction of the facing direction of the putter tokeep a relationship between the index line 10 and the basis portion 11in parallel realizes that the face portion 2 is precisely aimed at thetarget. The golf ball can be hit to the target precisely by a correctswing of the putter.

[0036] In addition, the putter head of the present invention hasachieved that a golf ball with a forward rotary motion is obtained byapplying impact energy longer to the ball with a wider sweet spot areaof the present putter. Accordingly, a favorable putting having awell-rolled ball with kept in straight line can be achieved. The presentputter further sets the depth of gravitational center deeper and theheight of gravitational center higher, and divides load balance betweenthe toe and the heel portions, so as to obtain a wider sweet spot at theface portion, whereby a putting convenience and the hole-out probabilityare both improved.

[0037] In addition, the basis portion of the present invention can beprovided not only utilizing by the edge portion of the weight portion,but also structuring as an attachment member. Alternatively, anattachment member as being of a different member may be adopted for thebasis portion so as to provide a structure having versatility in easyattachment to an existing golf club such as a putter.

What we claimed is:
 1. A putter head comprising: a face portion forhitting a golf ball toward the target; a sole portion extending from alower edge portion of said face portion along the ground in oppositedirection of said golf ball hit; a back portion extending upwardly froman end portion of said sole portion; and thereby forming a substantiallyU-shaped putter head integrally; wherein a weight portion attached to anupper portion of said back portion in a height at least the same heightof said face portion, thereby setting a center of gravity of said backportion in higher position.
 2. The putter head according to claim 1,wherein said back portion divides load of said weight portion to a toeportion and a heel portion of said sole portion by arranging a holethereon in which being visible to a rear surface of said face portion,and thereby distributing a ratio of said load optionally between saidtoe portion and said heel portion of said sole portion in accordancewith the position where said hole is arranged thereon.
 3. The putterhead according to claim 1, wherein an index line arranged on an uppersurface of said sole portion, and a basis portion arranged on saidweight portion being fixed in a parallel and a higher position upperfrom said index line.